Just between us
Even though we had just seen the cherry blossoms off,
the temperature had already exceeded 25 degrees Celsius.
I put a hat on my child,
and apply sunscreen.
The sunlight on the way to the park
was already scorching hot,
and my photochromic glasses had turned
completely black.
"Mommy, tell me a story."
While holding my child's hand,
I tell the story of Momotaro.
"How do they get to Onigashima?"
"Well, they go by boat. 'Heave-ho! Heave-ho!'"
My child lets go of my hand,
and starts dancing energetically.
"They head to Onigashima while dancing the Soran Bushi. It's a grand celebration."
I laugh,
and take my child's hand again.
"What do they do when they arrive at Onigashima?"
"Well, they eat kibi-dango."
"A pre-battle snack, huh? Do they eat them in front of the ogres?"
"They do! All of them!"
"That's provocative. The ogres might get hungry and start rampaging."
"I'll give them one."
"Oh, that's kind of you. The ogres will be happy with that."
We pass by the wisteria trellis. After the cherry blossoms come the wisteria, I think, spotting the next chapter of the season.
"And then, what do the ogres do?"
By giving them the kibi-dango, I even start to imagine a route where they become friends with the ogres.
"I'll defeat it!"
At the child's unwavering words,
the friendly route disappears.
"Why defeat it? The ogre has an iron club."
"What's an iron club?"
"It's a big, golden stick with spikes on it.
It'll swing it around at you."
"Well, a sword!
I'll fight with a sword!"
"I see, a sword.
A thin sword might be a bit unreliable, but
it'll be okay."
"Momotaro isn't alone.
He has a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant."
"The dog bites,
the monkey scratches,
and the pheasant pecks.
If you have a sword here, the ogre will fall too."
"If you have friends, you'll be fine."
I tried explaining the importance of friends
to the child.
"Can we defeat it?"
"Yes, we can defeat it."
"Yay!
Once we defeat it, we'll take the treasure,
and give it to the old man and the old woman."
"And they lived happily ever after."
The child finishes the story with a satisfied look.
"Yes. Happily ever after."
The park comes into view.
The hand I was holding slips away again,
and the child starts running off.
I watch that small back
for just a little longer.
"This is just between us."
"Parents will definitely go to help, too."
The strongest helper who never appears in the story
is always by the child's side.
Thank you for reading. This work is participating in a project by Keisan Haratoke.
Afterword
Talking about Momotaro with my child
was lively and fun.
When you listen to folktales from a parent's perspective, it makes you a little nervous.
"I won't let you go alone!?"
The fact that I can't help but think that
is just between us.